A blog devoted to the discussion of the greatest movies ever made, or The Essential Films. From the beginning of cinema history to present day, these films are crucial to the education of anyone who loves the art of film making.

Pages

Friday, June 26, 2015

On an all-new episode of the critically acclaimed FORCED PERSPECTIVE, join SportsGuy515 & Adolfo as they continue their trek through Summer 2015 with reviews of Tomorrowland, San Andreas, Poltergeist, Entourage, Spy, and (the record-breaking smash-hit) Jurassic World! The duo also pay tribute to the legendary SIR CHRISTOPHER LEE! PLUS:

-SportsGuy’s Christmas comes early this year…

-Tom Hanks in Big.

-What’s the point of BLU-RAY SLIPCOVERS?

-The awesomeness of BLU-RAY DIGIBOOKS, and whether or not the guys actually READ THE BOOK…

-Was Halloween III ahead of its time?

-SportsGuy and Adolfo debate the merits of Tomorrowland‘s message

-The silliness and fun of San Andreas

-Would Adolfo rather sit through Poltergeist or Annabelle again?

-What was the point of the Entourage movie?

-The MVP of Paul Feig’s Spy (and the answer is UNSURPRISING…)

-The nostalgic fun present in Jurassic World (+SPOILERS)!

-The guys answer the MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION: IF JURASSIC WORLD WERE REAL, WOULD YOU GO? The answers might surprise you!

Winner: Album of Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special - John Williams

National Film Preservation Board

Added to National Film Registry in 2001

People's Choice Awards

Winner: Favorite Motion Picture

Writer's Guild of America

Nominated: Best Drama Adapted from Another Medium

You're gonna need a bigger boat.

SPOILERS AHEAD

In honor of Jaws' 40th anniversary, The Essential Films presents a look at perhaps the greatest summer blockbuster of all time: Steven Spielberg's Jaws.

Amity Island is a small vacation community that sees a surge in tourism during the summer beach season. The new Sheriff in town, Martin Brody, discovers the remains of a shark attack victim washed up on the shore. Brody's request to close the beach until the shark's been caught is denied by the mayor, who is concerned about the impact it will have to the tourism business. After another victim is claimed by the rogue shark, this time a young boy in front of a crowded beach of tourists, the angry townspeople calls on the local government to act. The young boy's mother even puts a bounty on the shark, which brings all sorts of fisherman out of the woodwork (or out of the water, if you will.) A local fisherman named Quint offers to kill the shark for a large fee and Brody, believing Quint to be the most qualified, soon joins the effort, despite the fact that he's terrified of the water. They are joined by Oceanographer Matt Hooper and the trio embark on an adventure to capture and kill the great white predator.

Richard Zanuck and David Brown were both producers at Universal at the time of Jaws' inception. They had each read Peter Benchley's novel and decided that it would make a great movie, though admittedly did not know how it would be filmed when they purchased the movie rights. Steven Spielberg had impressed the pair of producers with his film, The Sugarland Express, which Spielberg directed for the production duo, and soon the young director was hired for the job. Spielberg later said that he found many similarities between Jaws and his first feature film Duel, which both involved a menacing "monster" attacking an everyman.

After some initial reluctance to take the film on, Spielberg eventually dove headfirst into production. Spielberg was unsatisfied with the first two acts of the book, but loved the final act, which focused specifically on the shark-hunting. Benchley was given the task of writing the screenplay and wrote three drafts before turning it over to Spielberg. Spielberg hired his friend Carl Gottlieb, who from that point forward became the primary writer on the film. Gottlieb drew inspiration from the actors conversations and improvisations, although Gottlieb gives the "You're gonna need a bigger boat" line and the USS Indianapolis speech credit to their respective actors.

After initially considering Robert Duvall and Charlton Heston, Roy Scheider was eventually cast as Chief Brody. Scheider was most famously known for his role in The French Connection, and Spielberg's initial concerns that his "tough guy" persona wouldn't work with the character were soon dissolved. Scheider portrayed Brody as a man in way over his head, whose frustration at the local government officials cause him a great deal of anxiety. He has some great reaction shots in the film, which portray true fear. Most people would go to the reaction right before the "bigger boat" line, but my personal favorite is the scene where the Kitner boy is killed. Spielberg does the Hitchcock zoom (zoom in while pulling camera back) and Brody's face tells it all. He instinctively runs to the water, but stops just short because of his phobia, all the while screaming at everyone to get out of the water. Scheider's acting is also incredible during the confrontation where Mrs. Kitner slaps him for not warning the townspeople. The other notable scene is the scene at the dinner table, when the burden of his job is getting to him, he has a sweet, goofy moment with his son. This is what gives him the strength to continue.

For the role of Hooper, Jon Voight and Jeff Bridges were considered, but Spielberg's friend George Lucas suggested Richard Dreyfuss, with whom he had worked on American Graffiti. Spielberg urged Dreyfuss not to read the book, as the script was being re-written specifically to suit him. Dreyfuss was a relative unknown actor, and obviously this film launched his career forward... winning an Academy Award just a few years later for the The Goodbye Girl and becoming one of America's most accomplished actors.

Sometimes that shark, he looks right into you. Right into your eyes. You know the thing about a shark, he's got... lifeless eyes, black eyes, like a doll's eye.

Quint was cast very close to the film's production start date, and after Lee Marvin and Sterling Hayden turned the film down, a reluctant Robert Shaw took on the role. Shaw had read the book and not liked it, but was eventually convinced by his wife to take the role. Shaw based much of his mannerisms on one of the local fisherman, Craig Kinsbury, even using some of his offscreen utterances as lines of dialogue. Quint is the most remembered and, frankly most fun, character in the film. His almost pirate-like cadence is as unforgettable as his iconic introduction into the film, where he scrapes his fingers across the chalkboard. His performance is simultaneously humorous and unsettling. His USS Indianapolis speech is one of the most chilling scenes ever filmed.

The film set new expectations in the suspense thriller genre, but it was mostly a series of happy accidents. Spielberg was relatively inexperienced and instead of filming the boat scenes in a water tank on soundstage, he insisted on shooting in the Atlantic Ocean, at sea, for authenticity. This would balloon the budget and cause massive production and equipment problems. (That said, it did look good on film) A large mechanical shark, nicknamed "Bruce" by the production team, was actually built for the production. However, Bruce never seemed to fully function correctly. Always breaking down whenever needed for a scene. Very few shots of Bruce actually exist in the finished film. So Spielberg used this as an opportunity to take a page out of Hitchcock's book... he never showed the shark on film in all the lead-up to the final act. It was better to hint at the threat, but never actually show it. And what was once a major production problem, became the film's signature calling card.

Cage goes in the water, you go in the water. Shark's in the water. Our shark.

The scene where Hooper escapes the shark cage right before the shark attacks it was another happy accident. Divers were sent to Australia to get some real life footage of sharks for the film. At one point, the cameras caught a massive shark attacking an empty cage. Hooper was initially supposed to die in the scene, but the footage of the shark attacking the empty cage was so spectacular, Spielberg re-wrote the script to have Hooper escape just so they could use the footage.

The final touch added to the film, and what most everyone remembers, is the iconic score by John Williams. Williams' theme for the shark has become synonymous with anyone even remotely tuned into pop culture as a sign of oncoming danger. Spielberg initially laughed at Williams when he played him the score, thinking it to be a joke, but the score remained and has become a classic piece of music. Everyone knows the Jaws score, and it's is an enormous part of the film's success.

Jaws went way over budget, and 100 days over schedule. The disgruntled crew called the film "Flaws." Spielberg was so frightened of the crew, that he even skipped the filming of the last scene because he thought they would throw him overboard as soon as filming wrapped. He was so certain that his career was over after the film was completed. Obviously, he was wrong.

This shark, swallow you whole.

Universal employed an unusual tactic for the release of Jaws. Unlike today, major studio releases were NOT released wide in all theaters. Instead, they were released in big markets first, usually New York, LA and Chicago, and slowly distributed throughout the year as positive word of mouth built up. Wide releases were usually a sign of a bad film, not a major production that the studio had faith in. Lew Wasserman, head of Universal at the time, saw the reactions audiences were having in test screenings and decided a major marketing campaign to push the film everywhere, in over 400 theaters, an idea that was unheard of. In July, after the film steamrolled the box office, it was expanded to 700 theaters and then to 900 in August, with a similar release system internationally. Jaws went on to become the biggest movie all time, sailing past previous record holder The Godfather, earning $470 million worldwide. Adjusted for inflation, Jaws has earned over $2 billion. And thus the blockbuster was born.

Jaws had a lasting legacy in changing the business. The wide release/massive marketing model was soon adopted by Hollywood as the new way to conduct business. Hollywood still works the same way to this very day. It also established the idea of the summer blockbuster, where studios would release all of their anticipated big money-makers in the summer, when audiences were more primed to go to the movies. While other films like Gone with the Wind and The Sound of Music were massive box office hits before, Jaws created an entire season for it.

Money isn't the only reason for this film to qualify for Essential status, though that is a major part of it. Jaws, is at its core, an endlessly entertaining adventure film, a chilling horror film and thrilling suspense film, no matter how much money it put in the pockets of studio executives. But on top of all of that, it also launched Spielberg's career to the moon. He had some minor successes before, but the Great White success of Jaws really put him on the map. Spielberg would go on to helm some of the greatest and essential films of the last 40 years, including Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, Jurassic Park, Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan, Minority Report and Lincoln. Jaws and Spielberg's influence on cinema is incalculable. So, don't be afraid to go back in the water and watch this essential classic.

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Legendary actor Christopher Lee died of complications of respiratory problems and heart failure on June 7, 2015 at the age of 93. In addition to being a Hammer Horror icon, Lee was a classically trained actor, an author, a World War II veteran, a Nazi hunter and a heavy metal singer. He was Count Dracula and the Frankenstein Monster. He was Sherlock Holmes. He worked with everyone from Billy Wilder to Martin Scorsese to George Lucas to Tim Burton. He had iconic roles in three major franchises: Star Wars, The Lord of The Rings (including The Hobbit) and the James Bond film The Man with the Golden Gun. Christopher Lee leaves behind an amazing legacy and he will be missed. These are his Essential Films.

THE LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY and THE HOBBIT TRILOGY

Peter Jackson

2001-2003, 2012-2014

After his career hit a bit of a slump in the 1990s, Christopher Lee returned to mainstream prominence as the traitorous Saruman in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy. The white wizard Saruman was a perfect role for Lee, even though, as a longtime Tolkein fan, he had always envisioned himself as portraying the heroic Gandalf. But his career as playing the villain in fantasy/horror films made this casting a perfect fit. Lee reprised the role for cameos in Jackson's recent The Hobbit trilogy as well. (NOTE: Christopher Lee appears in the theatrical releases of The Fellowship of The Ring and The Two Towers, but only in the extended cut of The Return of the King).

THE WICKER MAN

Robin Hardy

1973

Lee plays the enigmatically charming Lord Summerisle, the leader of a small, secluded island community that bears his name. When Sergeant Howie pays a visit to the island to investigate the disappearance of a young girl, he is shocked and disgusted by the islands pagan customs, which offend his strict Christian beliefs. Howie's investigations lead to a bigger conspiracy that culminates in a terrifying conclusion to this classic 70s horror film.

HUGO

Martin Scorsese

2011

Sir Christopher Lee appears in a small, but memorable role in this film about the adventures of a young clockmaker's apprentice, Hugo Cabaret. In the film, Lee's Monsieur Labisse is one of the few adults in Hugo's world that are kind to him, giving him a book about the adventures of Robin Hood.

HORROR OF DRACULA and DRACULA: PRINCE OF DARKNESS

Terrence Fisher

1958, 1966

DRACULA HAS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE

Freddie Francis

1968

Hammer Horror's adaptation of the classic Bram Stoker novel. Perhaps Lee's most iconic role. Many actors have played the role from Bela Lugosi to Gary Oldman, but Lee's was the first to truly capture the gothic romance of the novel. To add to the excellence: Lee plays opposite Peter Cushing as Van Helsing. One of the greatest pairings in horror cinema. In Prince of Darkness, a direct sequel to Horror of Dracula, Christopher Lee returns to the role, this time to torment Father Sandor, a priest who mistakenly believes that vampires had been wiped out. The Count is resurrected and proves him wrong. The last good Dracula/Lee film sees Dracula rise (again) while Monsignor Ernest Muller tries to destroy him and his evil forces in Risen from the Grave.

THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN

Terrence Fisher

1957

Hammer Horror takes a stab at Mary Shelley's classic tale of a driven scientist who builds a creature and intends to bring him to life. Another Cushing/Lee pairing with Cushing playing the determined-at-all-costs Dr. Frankenstein and Christopher Lee putting on the monster make up to play the famous creature.

THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES

Terrence Fisher

1959

Hammer Films takes a break from horror and adapts the classic Victorian super detective Sherlock Holmes' most famous story. Peter Cushing plays the title role opposite Christopher Lee's Sir Henry Baskerville in one of the best screen adaptations of Holmes to date.

THE MUMMY

Terence Fisher

1959

This time Hammer Horror continues its classic monsters trend and adapts The Mummy with Christopher Lee playing Kharis, the re-animated mummified corpse of an ancient high priest. Peter Cushing teams up for another ride with Lee, this time as the archaeologist that must stop the Mummy.

CORPSE BRIDE

Tim Burton

2005

Christopher Lee lent his considerable voice talents to this animated film from the mind of Tim Burton

about a young man that accidentally marries a cursed corpse bride. Christopher Lee plays a bad-tempered priest with a villainous past that may be directly involved with the titular character's demise.

In this installment of the famous 007 franchise, Christopher Lee is Francisco Scaramanga, one of the most memorable Bond villains of all time. Scaramanga, of course, has plans on world domination, but he is also one of the deadliest assassins on the planet, doing his dirty work with the titular Golden Gun.